Scarborough native sent to Texas for striker Andrew Wiedeman in a move that adds youth and frees up salary for TFC

Toronto FC's Julian de Guzman (top) heads the ball forward as San Jose Earthquakes' Tressor Moreno looks on in the first half of their MLS Soccer match in Toronto in March. De Guzman has been traded to FC Dallas.

By:Daniel GirardSports Reporter, Published on Fri Jul 13 2012

With salary cap space opened up by the trading of Julian de Guzman, Toronto FC boss Paul Mariner is looking to bolster his beleaguered defence.

And quickly.

“Sometimes these things can take hours. Sometimes it can take days,” Mariner, TFC’s head coach and director of soccer operations, told reporters in a conference call Friday. “Hopefully not more than a week.

“But it’s imminently pending,” he said from Boston Friday where the Reds were preparing to face New England Revolution Saturday (TSN2, 7:30 p.m.)

Shipping de Guzman, the 31-year-old Canadian international midfielder and one of TFC’s three designated players, to FC Dallas for 22-year-old forward Andrew Wiedeman “creates significant flexibility for the team,” he said.

De Guzman, a Scarborough native who joined the club amid great fanfare in September 2009, was the Reds’ second-highest paid player, making $1.9 million (all figures U.S.) this season. A total of $335,000 of that was charged against the league salary cap, which is $2.6 million for each team in 2012.

Mariner, who refused to say who was paying the remainder of de Guzman’s contract, which expires at the end of this season, said Dallas is picking up the salary cap hit. It amounts to $167,500 because it’s mid-season.

That reduction, plus the fact that as a so-called Generation Adidas player Wiedeman’s $123,000 salary for 2012 doesn’t count against the TFC payroll, means the club can go out and sign a third designated player.

“We are in negotiations with players that can fill that role,” Mariner said.

TFC, mired in dead-last in Major League Soccer and worst among the 19 teams in goals against average, desperately needs experienced defensive help.

Mariner said with the trade of de Guzman, which came just two days after Dutch forward Nick Soolsma was released, several players might be added.

“We have a few, one in particular, yes,” Mariner said when asked if he has specific players in mind. “But that’s as far as I can take you up to now.”

Among those said to be in the mix is de Guzman’s national side teammate Kevin McKenna. The 32-year-old captain of Canada spent the past five seasons at FC Koln, a club just relegated from the German Bundesliga.

De Guzman, who came to TFC from Deportivo La Coruna in Spain’s La Liga, was the club’s first designated player. A holding midfielder, his skill on the ball was evident but he was not the flashy, impact player many had hoped would be signed in their initial foray into high-priced talent.

As the club’s poor results continued, de Guzman was increasingly labelled as overpriced. While the Reds’ other two designated players — captain Torsten Frings ($2.4 million) and Danny Koevermans ($1.5 million) — have become vital components of the side, de Guzman often looked uncomfortable and found himself on the bench under former head coach Aron Winter.

He started just four of eight games since Mariner took over.

“Terry Dunfield has really done amazingly well for the club over recent weeks, so it was difficult for him (to get more playing time),” Mariner said, adding he thinks de Guzman “thrives” in Canada’s 4-5-1 formation.

“Sometimes you’ve got to do some things that make the football club better,” Mariner said. “I firmly believe that … this really helps us to improve the defensive situation.”

De Guzman, who did not have a no-trade clause, told MLS.com the trade was “part of the game.” He trained with his new team on Friday.

“For myself, Toronto will always be home, but football is the love of my life and to continue to play and have the chance to play here, it’s a great opportunity,” de Guzman said.

Among those wishing de Guzman well, was TFC goalkeeper Milos Kocic.

“Good luck Jules! I wish u all the best with Dallas! It was a pleasure playing with you,” he said via his Twitter account @MilosKocic30.

In Wiedeman, a second-round draft pick, 21st overall, by Dallas in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, the Reds get a guy who can play up front or in the midfield.

“He’s young. He’s very very hungry. He’s one of the best finishers I’ve seen in the modern era,” Mariner said of Wiedeman, who is expected to be available for Saturday’s match.

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